- Upgrades school’s e-library with state-of-the-art equipment and solar energy installations.
- Set to provide training, tools, and resources, including tablets, mobile data, and stipends for participants, to facilitate seamless data collection over the six-month study period.
- To host workshops and mentoring sessions to establish a Community of Practice (CoP) for data management, empowering students to join a global network of data enthusiasts.
Through a partnership with the Shehu Idris College of Health Science and Technology (SICHST), Makarfi Local Government Area of Kaduna State, NFTI is on track to expand its ongoing Health Facility Longitudinal Study to the Makarfi Local Government Area of Kaduna State. This partnership represents a unique integration of academic expertise and state-of-the-art technology that aims to address healthcare challenges and influence evidence-based policymaking.
Through this partnership, SICHST students will join NFTI in conducting a detailed assessment of healthcare systems in Makarfi LGA. This expansion aims to enhance data collection on key areas such as stock management, forecasting, human resource efficiency, and healthcare facility readiness. The partnership also seeks to provide students and faculty with hands-on experience in public health research, enabling them to contribute directly to improving their communities’ healthcare systems while building their technical and analytical capacities.
The partnership will also see NFTI equipping and transforming SICHST’s e-library into a solar-powered, fully operational Situation Room. This innovation is part of NFTI’s “Adopt a Lab” initiative, which aims to create a functional hub for data analysis, mentoring, and technical support throughout the study. Additionally, NFTI is equipping participants with essential tools, including tablets and internet connectivity, and organizing workshops to create a Community of Practice (CoP) that connects students to our expanding network of data champions. These efforts ensure that SICHST’s students are not only contributing to the longitudinal study but are also acquiring critical skills and mentorship to build future careers in data management and public health and a platform to contribute meaningfully to improving healthcare services in their immediate communities.
For its part, SICHST management has demonstrated its dedication to the partnership by facilitating access to training facilities, nominating qualified participants, and coordinating with NFTI to ensure the project’s timeline is adhered to.
The Longitudinal Study on Health Facility readiness is designed to track and evaluate critical healthcare metrics in primary healthcare facilities, with a focus on identifying gaps in service delivery and resource management. It seeks to answer pressing questions about the allocation and utilization of healthcare funds, the availability of essential medicines and vaccines, and how human resource gaps can be effectively addressed. The Makarfi LGA expansion builds on the successes of previous phases of the study and incorporates innovative approaches like Geographic Information Systems (GIS) technology to map healthcare facilities and analyze healthcare trends.
As the study scales up to Makarfi LGA, the partnership sets a benchmark for how data-driven strategies can transform healthcare systems. NFTI is unwavering in its dedication to providing the Kaduna State government with the necessary technical expertise and resources to enhance the delivery of healthcare. The foundation aspires to a future in which data serves as the foundation for effective policymaking, thereby facilitating positive change in communities throughout Nigeria and beyond.
